Benji B: Difference between revisions

Benjamin Benstead was born in London to a composer and former dance teacher.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=DJ Benji B|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4c23351c-957e-11e8-95f8-8640db9060a7|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Financial Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901114417/https://www.ft.com/content/4c23351c-957e-11e8-95f8-8640db9060a7 |archive-date=1 September 2018 }}</ref> He was raised between [[North London]] and [[South London]], and attended the [[Hendon School]] until he was sixteen. He completed his [[A-Levels]] while working at [[Kiss (UK radio station)|Kiss FM]] on the weekends.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=BENJI B|url=https://www.i-p.world/phoebe-lovatt-benji-b|access-date=2021-03-21|website=IP BYBy PHOEBEPhoebe LOVATT|language=enLovatt}}</ref> As a child, he played saxophone and was in a [[gamelan]] ensemble, before becoming interested in DJ culture through [[pirate radio]].<ref name=":3" />

Benji B began his professional career in 1995 when, at age sixteen, he began producing [[Gilles Peterson]]'s WorldWide radio program on [[Kiss (UK radio station)|Kiss FM]] and later worked as a producer under [[Jez Nelson]];<ref name=":4" /> he moved to [[BBC Radio 1]] with WorldWide in 1998. He joined [[BBC Radio 1xtra]] as a presenter when the station launched in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benji B|url=https://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en/artists-speakers/benji-b/5704/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=ADE|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Soar|first=Sophie|date=2018-11-12|title=How I Became... Music Director for Louis Vuitton Menswear|url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/workplace-talent/how-i-became-music-director-for-louis-vuitton-menswear|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-21|website=The Business of Fashion|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117083608/https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/workplace-talent/how-i-became-music-director-for-louis-vuitton-menswear |archive-date=17 January 2021 }}</ref> In September 2010, Benji B began presenting on Radio 1, taking over the 1am–3am slot Wednesday nights / Thursday mornings previously inhabited by [[Mary Anne Hobbs]];<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=2010-09-06|title=Benji B moves to Radio 1|url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1042442&sectioncode=1|accessdate=2012-06-04|publisher=Music Week}}</ref> later, his show Deviation<ref>{{cite journal|last=C|first=Scott|year=2006|title=Devious deviant|url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/092806/music3.html|url-status=dead|journal=[[Montreal Mirror]]|publisher=Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée|volume=22|issue=15|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116013118/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/092806/music3.html|archivedate=16 January 2011|accessdate=2010-08-11|ref=scott2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref> began simulcasting to 1xtra and the [[BBC Asian Network]]. He also previously presented a weekly radio show called of the same name on [[Couleur 3]], a national Swiss radio station.<ref name=":1" />

In 2007, he founded the London [[Nightclub|club night]] Deviation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Collins|first=Hattie|date=2016-04-14|title=benji b breaks down the secret of deviation’sdeviation's success|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/xwdkkw/benji-b-breaks-down-the-secret-of-deviations-success|access-date=2021-03-21|website=i-D|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Crate Diggin': Celebrating 10 years of Deviation with Benji B - fabric blog|url=https://www.fabriclondon.com/blog/view/crate-diggin-celebrating-10-years-of-deviation-with-benji-b|access-date=2021-03-21|website=fabric london}}</ref> Deviation began a hiatus in 2017-2018.<ref name=":3" />

Since the early 2010s, he has collaborated with American rapper [[Kanye West]]. He is credited as an additional producer on the track "[[On Sight]]" from ''[[Yeezus]]'' and as co-producer on the track "[[Fade (Kanye West song)|Fade]]" from ''[[The Life of Pablo]]''. In 2019, he helped produce the inaugural [[Sunday Service Choir|Sunday Service]] performance at [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2019-10-22|title=Benji B on Working With Kanye & Virgil on Music: Listen Now Here|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/benji-b-on-the-record-podcast/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Highsnobiety|language=en}}</ref> Benji B is a credited producer on a handful of tracks by other artists including [[Jessie Ware]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramli|first=Sofiana|date=2019-11-07|title=Jessie Ware previews new album with clubby single ‘Mirage'Mirage (Don’tDon't Stop)’'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/jessie-ware-new-club-single-mirage-dont-stop-2565375|access-date=2019-11-27|website=NME|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Benji B|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/35326-Benji-B|access-date=2021-03-21|website=Discogs|language=en}}</ref>

As of 2015, Benji B has a record collection of 15,000 to 20,000 records.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-04-23|title=Crate Diggers: Benji B|url=https://thevinylfactory.com/features/crate-diggers-benji-b/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=The Vinyl Factory|language=en-US}}</ref>